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Most buyers should pick YepAPI.
We’d choose YepAPI for applications that need several data types or AI models behind one usage-billed API key. It includes $5 in signup credit, has no monthly minimum and lists no rate limits. Majestic is the better fit for backlink research built around its Fresh and Historic Indexes, Site Explorer and link metrics. Its full API access starts with the $399.99-per-month API — 100 million plan, or $333.33 per month billed annually.
01Side by side
| YepAPI | Majestic | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-call, prepaid; no monthly minimum | Monthly plans; annual equivalents available |
| Free tier | $5 signup credit; no card required | No free subscription; free SEO tools |
| API and SDKs | Shared-key JSON API; SDK languages not listed | Backlink API; full access on API plans |
| CLI and docs | llms.txt, MCP server and agent skills | API Reference Guide; CLI not listed |
| Integrations | Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and MCP | GitHub connectors, Google Sheets, browser plugins |
| Deployment model | Web platform with API endpoints | Web service with API |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | No rate limits; pay per call | Monthly analysis-unit quotas; no rollover |
YepAPI Choose YepAPI if
- Choose YepAPI if you need SEO, scraping, social and AI endpoints.
- Choose YepAPI if you prefer usage billing without a monthly minimum.
- Choose YepAPI if your agents use Claude Code, Cursor or Codex.
Majestic Choose Majestic if
- Choose Majestic if backlink analysis is your main use case.
- Choose Majestic if you need its Fresh and Historic Indexes.
- Choose Majestic if your team relies on Trust Flow metrics.
02Pricing at real usage
YepAPI has no subscription or monthly minimum: the pricing page lists $5 in signup credit, then per-call or metered charges, with Google SERP from $0.01 per call. Failed calls are not charged, and the pricing page lists no rate limits; total spend still rises with request volume and endpoint or model pricing. The credit is not a permanent free tier.
Majestic has no free subscription plan, though its homepage lists free SEO tools. Lite costs $49.99 monthly or $41.67 per month on annual billing; Pro is $99.99 monthly or $83.33 annual equivalent. Neither includes full API access. API — 100 million costs $399.99 monthly or $333.33 annual equivalent and includes 100 million analysis units per month. Higher API tiers cost $799.99 and $1,599.99 monthly for 300 million and 1,000 million units. Allowances do not roll over; seat add-ons and overages are not priced.
03API, SDKs and integration
YepAPI uses one API key across SEO, SERP, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and its catalog of 285 AI models. The homepage shows POST endpoints and JSON responses, including Google SERP and web scraping calls. It lists Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, an MCP server and agent skills, and points AI agents to llms.txt. The vendor does not publish SDK languages in the listed developer facts, so plan around its documented API rather than a language-specific client.
Majestic provides a backlink data API, API key management and an API Reference Guide. Full API access is included with its API plans, not Lite or Pro. Its listed integrations include a connector library, GitHub connectors, Google Sheets and browser plugins. The vendor does not publish supported SDK languages. The API and integration details make Majestic a more focused fit for applications that use its backlink data and metrics.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Neither vendor publishes an open-source license or self-hosting option, so treat both as services to call rather than components to run in your infrastructure. YepAPI puts multiple data and model endpoints behind one key and a consistent JSON response format. That simplifies wiring across its endpoints, but application code still depends on its routes, prices and model identifiers; replacing it means mapping those calls to other providers.
Majestic centers its web tools and API on backlink indexes and metrics, including Trust Flow, Citation Flow and Topical Trust Flow. Moving a Majestic-backed workflow means replacing API calls and any logic built around those metrics. Neither vendor describes an export format or migration path. Ask about data retrieval and retention before making either service a system of record.
Questions people ask
Is YepAPI cheaper than Majestic?
It can be for developers with light or variable usage: YepAPI charges per call and has no monthly minimum. Majestic starts at $49.99 per month for Lite, but that plan does not include full API access. Majestic’s API — 100 million plan costs $399.99 monthly, or $333.33 per month billed annually.
Can I use the Majestic API on Lite or Pro?
No. The pricing page lists Lite and Pro as plans without full API access. Full API access starts with API — 100 million, which includes 100 million analysis units per month and costs $399.99 monthly or $333.33 per month billed annually.
Which tool is better for backlink analysis?
Majestic is the more focused choice. Its Site Explorer examines backlinks, referring domains, anchor text, pages and related sites; its metrics include Trust Flow and Citation Flow. YepAPI offers backlink data as part of a broader API covering SEO, scraping, social and e-commerce data, and AI models.
Does YepAPI impose rate limits?
The pricing page lists no rate limits, and failed calls are not charged. That does not make usage free: YepAPI bills per call or other metered unit, so total spend grows with activity. Check each endpoint’s listed price when estimating an application’s running costs.